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Polo The Game
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| We have detailed below a basic overview of the rules
of polo for any newcomer visiting our site for the first time. We
hope you enjoy reading them, and would welcome any ideas on expanding
this site to help others - both newcomers and 'old hands' alike! |
For the Newcomer to Polo - a few notes on the rules |
GROUND - The maximum permitted
is 300 yards long and 200 yards wide. Goal posts are 8 yards apart.
Play is divided into chukkas of 7 minutes
each, with an interval between chukkas of 3 minutes, extended to
5 minutes at half-time. A full match is 8 chukkas, but usually 4
or 6 chukkas are played. BELL - is rung
at the end of each 7 minute period. Play continues after the bell
until the ball goes out of play, or the umpire stops play for a
foul, or the bell is rung for a second time 30 seconds after the
first bell; in the last chukka play stops with the first stroke
of the bell. In the case of a tie, the last chukka ends in the same
way as previous chukkas, and then after an interval of 5 minutes
the game goes on with additional chukkas, the goals being widened
to 16 yards, until a deciding goal is scored. CHANGING
ENDS - Ends are changed after EACH GOAL
scored, or at half-time if no score by then. |
Field Rules
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The most important of these are: RIGHT
OF WAY - This extends on the left side of the exact line
of the ball (as seen by the player following or meeting the ball).
Any player riding the right of way is entitled to hit the ball on
his off side unless ridden off it. If there is no player on the
exact right of way the right of possession passes to the player
riding at the smallest angle to it in the direction in which the
ball is travelling. CROSSING - Any player
who crosses the player in the right of way close enough to be dangerous
or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul. RIDING
OFF - is permitted, whether the other man is playing the
ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous
angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.
HOOKING STICKS - A player may hook an opponents
stick provided he is on the same side of the opponent as the ball,
or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level
of the opponents shoulder. |
Penalties
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Numbered as below, are exacted for infringement of
the Field Rules: No. 1: A GOAL
- Awarded to the side fouled and game restarted where the foul occurred.
(For a dangerous foul near goal). No. 2: 30 YARD
HIT
- At open goal, attackers to be level with the ball when hit or
hit at defenders to be behind the back line. (For a dangerous foul).
No.3 40 YARD HIT - at open goal, attackers to be level with the
ball when hit or hit at defenders to be behind the back line. (For
a less dangerous foul). No. 4: 60 YARD HIT
- Opposite the goal, none of the defending side to be nearer than
30 yards when the ball is hit or hit at; attackers may place themselves
where they please. (For a moderate foul). No. 5(a):
FREE HIT
- From the spot where the foul occurred, none of the defending side
to be nearer than 30 yards. (For a mild foul). No.
5(b): FREE HIT
- From the centre of the ground, none of the defending side to be
nearer than 30 yards. (Awarded at the discretion of the umpires).
No. 6: 60 YARD HIT
- Opposite where the ball crossed the back line, none of the defenders
to be nearer than 30 yards when the ball is hit or hit at. (For
the defenders hitting behind their own back line) |
Handicaps
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Each player is handicapped (on a 6 chukka basis)
from minus 2 up to 10 goals (the best player). The aggregate handicap
of the four players is the team handicap. In handicap tournaments
the number of goals start is obtained by dividing the difference
between the two teams handicaps by six and multiplying by the number
of chukkas to be played; any fractions count as half a goal.
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